Number of Participants: 21
Hours Donated: 1
Value of Time Served: $177
Event Type: Civic & Community
Sport: Schools
Date: September 23, 2019
Location:
Seaford
NY, USA
About:
The courtyard at Seaford Harbor Elementary School was transformed into a symbol for peace in a matter of hours on Sept. 23. Throughout the day, students visited the space to place their colorful pinwheels in the ground as they took part in the global Pinwheels for Peace initiative.
In the week leading up to World Peace Day on Sept. 21, students decorated their pinwheels, creating personalized designs. They attached pencils and straws so they could stick their pinwheels into the ground upon returning to school from the weekend. By the time the last class went outside, more than 500 pinwheels were spinning.
The courtyard is bordered on two sides by the well-traveled hallways leading to the cafeteria, gymnasium, art and music rooms, so students could get a daily reminder of the message of peace and kindness, social worker Sharon Klein explained.
Ms. Klein said that the pinwheel activity kicked off Start With Hello Week from Sept. 23-27, sponsored by the Sandy Hook Promise. The purpose is to create a culture of inclusion that values each individual at a school through small but powerful actions.
“If you reach out and get to know each other,” she said, “you might find out that you had a friend nearby that you didn’t know.”
Photo captions:
Seaford Harbor Elementary School second graders were ready to place their pinwheels in the ground on Sept. 23 to mark World Peace Day.
Photos courtesy of the Seaford School District
